Below 265 SQ/FT Upgrade my workshop bench table top

[fishwatcher]

I have a very humble Gorilla rack style workbench. Is 5’ wide x 2’ deep. It’s got some sort of 3/8” particle board top.

It’s served me well.. but I’m using my workshop for more things.. I’d like to upgrade the top. While a nice thick solid wood or butcher block top would be nice.. I need to keep this upgrade cheap. Under $100 tops (pun intended).

I might be able to get my hands on a couple of 48” x 24” 1” thick butcher block tops in my budget (CL visit today). However.. ideally I’d want it solid all the way across.

Would it be worth getting these boards and cutting one/them to fit? What would be the best way to join them without special tools? I’m talking.. I have a drill, hand tools, and a circular saw I just picked up and have never used.

I’ve seen FastCap flip bolts and J hooks that look interesting. Any other suggestions?

Ideally.. I could find one sized to fit (so I don’t have to cut it myself), solid 1.5” or more.

Something like this.. but the price is above my limit.

 

[larry4406]

Do you have a planer by chance?

I have seen 2x4's plained to remove the radiused corners then glued together, sometimes with all thread, nuts, washers to pull all tight with end boards bored to conceal the internal fasteners.

 

[fishwatcher]

B

Do you have a planer by chance?

I have seen 2x4's plained to remove the radiused corners then glued together, sometimes with all thread, nuts, washers to pull all tight with end boards bored to conceal the internal fasteners.

Nope. Only the most basic of tools.. most of which are on the peg board in the picture, lol. The circular saw is an old one, and I've never used one before. Trying to expand my skills here.. but not go crazy on adding more expensive tools.

 

[jimgood]

I have a bench with a plywood top that serves me well. I can't recall the thickness but it's two pieces stacked and screwed together. It's not as elegant as butcher block but once you're working on it you'll never notice. With one sheet of plywood, you can get two pieces 60 x 23 15/16" (accounting for the saw kerf).

 

[Shiftless]

I have a 7 foot wide workbench originally particle board. I found a used 6 foot long IKEA butcher block table top on C/L laid it on top and just left the remaining 1 foot as-is.

 

[softailgarage]

To me, the workbench is the heart of the shop/garage. Its where you build, create and spend the majority of time at (the rest of the time is spent looking for that damn tool you just set down and is now gone). Get rid of the Gorilla rack and build your own. Customize it to what you need. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like your just getting into being a garageaholic like the rest of us and if I'm correct, in about 6 months you're going to outgrow that little bench and will be wanting something bigger, more sturdy (like the top) and can store more ****. Build something you can be proud of, something that will be there in 20 or 30 years.

 

[fishwatcher]

To me, the workbench is the heart of the shop/garage. Its where you build, create and spend the majority of time at (the rest of the time is spent looking for that damn tool you just set down and is now gone). Get rid of the Gorilla rack and build your own. Customize it to what you need. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like your just getting into being a garageaholic like the rest of us and if I'm correct, in about 6 months you're going to outgrow that little bench and will be wanting something bigger, more sturdy (like the top) and can store more ****. Build something you can be proud of, something that will be there in 20 or 30 years.

The space I have is small. I won’t be junking the workbench, nor building a new one anytime soon. I do like everybody’s ideas here so far and totally appreciate your advice and the sentiment.

A month ago.. all I had was a tiny clamp on vise. Now I have two Wilton’s which I am restoring off of CL and FB Marketplace.

Mostly I do work on a couple of old bikes so I don’t need a ton of additional bench space.

 

[fishwatcher]

I have a bench with a plywood top that serves me well. I can't recall the thickness but it's two pieces stacked and screwed together. It's not as elegant as butcher block but once you're working on it you'll never notice. With one sheet of plywood, you can get two pieces 60 x 23 15/16" (accounting for the saw kerf).

I’ve never shopped for plywood.. but maybe that’s what I should do. Sounds like it’ll fit my budget much better.

 

[NDJ]

Home Depot sells butcher block style work bench tops :

Husky 72 in. Solid Wood Work Surface for Ready-to-Assemble 6-ft. adjustable height workbench G7200AS-US - The Home Depot

Raise your work to a whole new level and be more productive by choosing this exclusive Husky Solid Wood Top for Solid Wood Top Workbench. Easy to handle.

www.homedepot.com

Maybe more than you wanted to spend tho

 

[softailgarage]

Home Depot, Lowes and Sears all sell butcher block style bench/countertops, though they do get pricey. I've always preferred 1" or 3/4" plywood w/ dark brown hardboard on top. I like the hardboard (peg board without the holes), its tough, stands up to liquid spills, can be written on, relatively cheap and when its done just slap another piece on top.

 

[fishwatcher]

Home Depot, Lowes and Sears all sell butcher block style bench/countertops, though they do get pricey. I've always preferred 1" or 3/4" plywood w/ dark brown hardboard on top. I like the hardboard (peg board without the holes), its tough, stands up to liquid spills, can be written on, relatively cheap and when its done just slap another piece on top.

Do you just lay it on top? Or attach it somehow?

 

[Aaron_W]

I'm another plywood and masonite (hardboard) fan. Double up the 1/2" or 3/4" plywood depending on how solid I feel is appropriate, then put a 1/4" piece of hardboard on the top, usually just screwed down in the 4 corners for easy replacement down the road, although I've found it holds up quite well. The dark brown is the easiest to find, but I found some with a white top coat that I used as it give me better light. The white seems to hold up as well as the dark brown.

 

[ZRX61]

Do you just lay it on top? Or attach it somehow?

The bolts for the vise(s) hold it in place. My bench top is 2x10's, 1/2in ply & 5/16 masonite. The masonite was varnished... once, about 25 years ago.

 

[jimgood]

I like the masonite idea. Plywood is not cheap but looking at Lowe's, you can still get 3/4" Maple, Birch or Red Oak for $80-$90 (at least in my area). That's crazy expensive compared to 3 or 4 years ago but it is what it is.

 

[Prospecter]

For your budget and goals, I'd add to the surface you have. 15/32 osb is pretty inexpensive. You could glue and screw it to the bottom of the current surface, and / or glue Masonite to the top. If gluing to the top, buy a gallon yellow glue, and spread it with a chip brush or small roller. You'll have plenty left over for another project. Use weight to hold down the surface while the glue dries. Wiltons, cat litter, paint cans, tools, etc. Anything weighty on top will hold the surface down.

Left over paint / urethane is the right coating to spiff it up if you like.

Done. Probably $50.

 

[ZRX61]

I like the masonite idea. Plywood is not cheap but looking at Lowe's, you can still get 3/4" Maple, Birch or Red Oak for $80-$90 (at least in my area). That's crazy expensive compared to 3 or 4 years ago but it is what it is.

If you slap masonite on the plywood it doesn't need to be the expensive plywood

 

[jimgood]

If you slap masonite on the plywood it doesn't need to be the expensive plywood

Sure. The thing about the expensive plywood is it is usually flat. The pine stuff is usually wonky and has more voids. Will that matter on a benchtop covered in masonite? Probably not.

 

[fishwatcher]

Patience and FB Marketplace came through.

$100 for a Husky 72” wide x 24” x 1.25” thick “butcher block” top. I used an old circular saw for the first time ever and although my cut was a little wobbly and burnt.. sand paper and strategic placement near the wall hides my amateur cut.

This is more than good enough for me. I’m happy!

 

[Sleepy1]

Looks great, like it was made for it.